DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Systematics of the Enigmatic Wasp Family Evaniidae

旗蜂是一种色彩鲜艳、采集频繁、易于辨认的蟑螂卵寄生蜂，但一直被系统学家和进化生态学家所忽视。 目前的分类方法已经过时，而且不充分，这是今后对隐翅虫研究的主要障碍。 这个项目的目的是彻底检查evaniid分类，调查家庭内的系统发育关系，它和其他主要的Hypherteran组之间，并使用的关系来检查在进化背景下的几个现象。 在第一部分，evaniid属的修订将进行检查的基础上，已经组装了大量的材料，和新的分类用于结构的世界物种目录后，在几个主要博物馆的模式标本检查。 在第二部分中，属间的系统发育关系将估计使用DNA序列数据从五个基因（16S，COI，28S，LW Rh，和一个新的基因）沿着形态特征。在第三部分中，Evaniidae和其他Hyquitera超科（强调Evanioidea）之间的关系将使用已经广泛应用于Hyquitera的三个基因（16S，COI和28S）的DNA序列数据进行估计。 第一部分到第三部分的结果不仅有助于提出新的和更有预测性的分类，而且有助于调查这些黄蜂产卵行为的进化，以及它们的地理历史。一个有前途的年轻系统学家将在本论文项目期间接受培训，工作的结果也将对更大的NSF资助的组装生命之树项目产生直接影响。 新的Evaniidae属的分类将打开这个迷人的组进一步的分类和生态学研究。

Abstract Ensign wasps (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae) are colorful, frequently collected, and recognizable parasites of cockroach eggs, yet they have been relatively neglected by systematists and evolutionary ecologists. The main obstacle to future research on evaniids is the current classification, which is outdated and inadequate. The intent of this project is to overhaul evaniid taxonomy, investigate the phylogenetic relationships within the family and between it and other major Hymenopteran groups, and to use the relationships to examine several phenomena in an evolutionary context. In part I, a revision of evaniid genera will be conducted based on examination of a large body of material already assembled, and the new classification used to structure a world catalog of species following examination of type specimens in several major museums. In part II, phylogenetic relationships among the genera will be estimated using DNA sequence data from five genes (16S, COI, 28S, LW Rh, and one new gene) along with morphological characters. In Part III, the relationships between Evaniidae and other Hymenopteran superfamilies (emphasizing Evanioidea) will be estimated using DNA sequence data from three genes that have already been widely used across Hymenoptera (16S, COI and 28S). The results of Parts I through III will but useful not only for proposing new and more predictive classifications, but also for investigating the evolution of oviposition behavior in these wasps, as well as their biogeographic history. A promising young systematist will be trained during this dissertation project, and the results of the work will also have immediate impact on the larger NSF-funded Assembling the Tree of Life project on the megadiverse insect order Hymenoptera. The new generiuc classification for Evaniidae will open up this fascinating group to further taxonomic and ecological study.